Posing As Normal© The Humor of Mary Tompsett

About Mary Mary was born in Racine, Wisconsin, and lived in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Illinois and upstate New York before returning to Racine. A piece of her heart remains in every location, which could be tricky when it comes to organ donation. Education K-8 - seven schools in five cities 9-12 - one high school (Thank you, Mom and Dad) U-Wis - 3 years (psychology, Spanish and lots of card-playing) Classes in sewing, interior design, and shorthand U-Mass - BA (psychology) Boston University - one semester graduate work in rehab counseling Additional chemistry and physics courses Professional Experience This well-planned educational portfolio launched Mary’s stellar career as a: Waitressmedicaltranscriptionistdentalassistantlifeguardridinginstructor ........which led to work as a Medicaidcoordinatorstablehandalcoholismcounselorprobationagenthousecleaner ........and included positions as an Amwayrepsecretaryteachersaidebookeepercourtclerkswimminginstructor ........and opened doors to financial success as a Customerservicerepcarpenterhelperbanquetwaitressreceptionistfarrier, ........and increased her professional marketability as an AdministrativeassistantbookstoreclerkfarmsitterandohdidIsaywaitress True, composing a coherent resumé was a frequent, daunting task, but Mary credits those writing experiences with helping her master believable fiction. Synopsis of Writerly Stuff Age five-wrote and illustrated first book, nonfiction: horses. Manuscript lost. Age 19-second book, fiction: Humorous college primer, written while fellow students fled tear gas attacks. Manuscript confiscated by radical dorm mother. 30s-third book, nonfiction: The psychosocial dynamics of waiting tables. Manuscript fell into the deep fryer and remains unpublished. 40s-While unemployed, Mary wrote magazine-length articles, spent $$hundreds on postage, and sold two pieces for $12 each. Reinsulated the house, using shredded rejection letters. Driven by a mature "the hell with them" attitude, Mary embarked on writing a novel (Click here -> The Novel). This feat took several years of evenings and weekends while sampling various flavors of 9-5 employment. Novel manuscript professionally edited, and the hunt for an agent began. Insulated both garages with rejection letters. 2006 - To establish reader base and marketability for novel, Mary began writing "Posing As Normal"©. A few editors chose to carry the monthly column; many more have contributed to the next insulating project. To date, Mary plods along with the agent thing, is grateful for a 9-5 that pays the mortgage, and totally grooves on writing stuff that’s actually being read.